
The Collection and Preservation 
of County War Records 




War Records Section 

Illinois State Historical Library 
Springfield, Illinois 



The Collection and Preservation 
of County War Records 



War Records Section 

Illinois State Historical Library _, 

Springfield, Illinois 



I0 57O 



SOHNEPP & Barnes, Printers 

Springfield. III. 

1919. 



*>. Of D. 

•10V 22 t9i3 



THE COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF 
COUNTY WAR RECORDS 



THE HISTORY OF ILLINOIS IN THE WAR 

The legislature of Illinois at its recent session passed an act 
which rendered possible the establishment of a War Records Section 
under the auspices of the State Historical Library, charged with the 
duty of making a state-wide survey tor the gathering of historical 
material pertaining to the war. The task which has been undertaken 
by the War Records Section resolves itself into two phases: (1) The 
gathering of material pertaining to the State as a whole in a central 
collection at the State capital, and ("3) The collection in local deposi- 
tories of material pertaining to the \ariotis counties of the State. The 
suggestions contained in this pamphlet are for the information and 
guidance of those persons and agencies engaged in the second phase 
ol this task, namely, the collection and preservation of county war 
records. 

PURPOSE OF COLLECTING COUNTY WAR RECORDS 

The reasons wliy it is desirable that these records should be lire- 
served are obvious. In the first place, what more fitting memorial 
can be erected to those who worked, fought, or died in the service of 
their country than a permanent collection which will preser\'e for all 
time the memory of their deeds! ^Moreover, the information which 
will l)e gathered will be absolutely necessary to the futtire historian. 
Much of it will be recpiired for the pin-])ose of writing the history of 
the State in the Great War, for which the W'av T'iecords Section is 
making preparation. In addition to any sentimental value which these 
county records may possess, they also reveal how the iieople reacted 
to the great national war policies and they will preserve a vast amount 
of information concerning social, industrial and political conditions 
which may be of the greatest value in some future emergency. But 
this work must be done now or never. If further time is lost the task- 
will be im]30ssible of fulfillment. Other states are preserving their 
historical records and county collections are being assembled in Minne- 
sota, Wisconsin. Indiana. Kentucky and elsewhere. Illinois, which 
has alwavs been a leader in such enterprises, cannot afford to lag lie- 
hind. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE MATERIAL DESIRED 

The following suggcsl ions will indicate the kind of material which 
should be [)reserved by the \arious counties. While the list is not 
comjilete it will serve as a basis tipon which to begin work. 



Records of the State Council of Defense and Related 
Organizations 

These records consist of formal reijorts, minutes, correspondence, 
nnd printed material of all sorts pertaining to the work of the local 
committees of the Council, including; circulars and instructions from the 
State headquarters. Such material may be obtained from the former 
chairmen of the committees. Following is a list of the committees of 
the Council which were organized in most of the counties of the State 
at one time or another. 

Executive Committee. 

County Auxiliary. 

Woman's Committee. 

Neighborhood Committee. 

Publicity Committee. 

Food Production and Conser\ation Committee. 

County Finance Committee. 

Highways Transport Committee (organized by districts and 
divisions) . 

Commercial Econoni)' Administration (organized by towns 
and cities). 

Non-war Construction Bureau. 

Legal Advisory Board. 
There were also several more or less independent agencies, 
which were organized by counties, and which co-operated with the 
State Council of Defense. The most important of these were as 
follows : 

American Red Cross. 

Four Minute Men. 

U. S. Food Administration. 

U. S. Vue\ Administration. 

U. S. Boys' Working Reserve. 

U. S. War Savings Committee. 

American Protective League. 

Liberty Loan Committee. 

The committees and agencies enumerated above, including those 
which were a part of the State Council of Defense, were organized 
in nearly every county, and if there is difficulty in locating their 
records, the names of the chairmen can in most instances be obtained 
on request fmni the War Records Section. Every person engaged 
in collecting county war records should secure a copy of the Final 
Report of the State Council of Defense of Illinois, which contains a 
large amount of useful information. Cojjies of this re])ort can be 
obtained from the Illinois State Historical Library. Collectors of 
county war records will find it heljjful as a preliminary to their work 
to compile a local directory of these organizations, together with a 
list of their members, to be used as a guide in gathering material. 

There were other agencies which had no actual county organiza- 
tion liut whose activities nuist not be overlooked. The names of the 
more important ones follow : 



Y. M. C. A. 

SaK'atioii Army. 

Knights of Columlnis. 

Jewish Welfare Board. 

\\'ar Camp Community Service. 

Y. \V. C. A. 

Records of Men in the Service 

I.\i)i\'inuAL Sekvici; Recorils. Alany counties are compiHng 
individual service, records for the men who served in the army, navy, 
or marine corps, and it is tirged that this be done wherever possible. 
The War Records Section has prepared a model form which those 
counties which have not yet begun work may find it convenient to 
adopt, making any changes which may be considered desirable. A 
sufficient number of these forms can be obtained at small cost from 
a local printer. 

Roll of Hoxok of Those Who Died ix the Service. The 
county should by all means compile a roll of honor, including the 
names and if possible the ])hotographs of all those who gave their 
lives to their country, together with a complete record of their service. 

Letters and Diaries of Men in the Service. This material 
will be extremely valuable in years to come and will be used exten- 
sively by the War Records Section in writing the history of Illinoi.s 
in the war. 

Citations for BRAVER^■ and Distinguished Service. 

Service Records of AIen in Foreign Armies. This informa- 
tion is of particular value since the records of the ^^'ar Department 
contain no data concerning these men. 

Chronicles of the Selective Draft. These were prepared 
by members of draft boards for the Provost Marshal General. 
Copies may in many instances be obtained from the members of the 
local boards and exemption boards. 

Publicity and Information Material 

Newspapers. As comjilelc files as possible of all county news- 
papers should be obtained. 

War Posters. These include Red Cross, Liberty Loan, and 
other ijosters. 

War Information Pamphlets. 

Food and Fuel Regulations. These are usually in the form 
of printed circulars, posters, etc. 

ANTI-\^^^R Propaganda, if any. 

Records of Local Institutions 

Nearly e\ery local organization of importance did war work of 
some sort, a record of which has been preserved in the shape of 



lirinled material, formal reports, or in various other ways. The fol- 
lowing list of such organizations is merely suggestive: 

Schools and Colleges. 

Churches. 

Libraries. 

Women's Clubs. 

Chambers of Commerce. 

Industrial Activities 

'Ihis material \\ill lie of great variety and the local situation 
will furnish the best guide to the collector's activities. Special at- 
tention should be given to war work done by manufacturing plants 
and to agricultural societies, war gardens, etc. 

Relics and Trophies 

There are many material objects which cannot properly be desig- 
nated as war records which yet possess great historical interest. Such 
objects include weapons and military equipment of various kinds, 
flags, medals, insignia, German helmets, etc. Oftentimes county his- 
torical agencies will be able to secure gifts of such relics simply by 
announcing that they are desired. They serve to stimulate popular 
interest and may in many cases be made the nucleus of a collection of 
war records. 

Methods of Collecting Material 

No hard and fast rules can be laid down for the organization of 
the task of collecting war records in any particular county. The local 
situation will necessarily determine the method of work. The War 
Records Section desires to avoid duplication of efifort in all cases and 
it is the intention to carry on the work so far as possible through 
agencies which are already active. The facilities available in the vari- 
ous counties will also Ije a determining factor. 

In practically e\-ery case it will be found advisable to form a 
committee or working organization large enough to handle efficiently 
the various details of the project: how large the committee ought to 
be will depend upon local conditions. A convenient method of collect- 
ing records pertaining to organized war activities is to designate some 
person to be responsible for the material pertaining to each of these 
activities. Persons who were associated with the various war service 
organizations will in nearly all cases be willing to assist in gathering 
the materials connected with their work and it is urged that their 
services be utilized wherever possible. It will also be found advisable 
in most counties to appoint certain persons to represent various towns 
and localities, for the purpose of gathering material for the county 
war records collection. The number of persons whose services can be 
effectively used is practically unlimited as the historical committee 
does not need to be a complicated organization. The members of the 
committee will usually perform their duties in a satisfactory manner 



if they arc clearly inslructcil in what is desired of them. Local public 
libraries and librarians will nearl\- always be found helpful and valu- 
able assistance can generally be secured from the public librarian at 
the county seat. Many libraries have already undertaken the collec- 
tion of certain kinds of war material on their own responsibility. 

The expense involved in the colleclioia of county war records 
need not be great, but small sums may be required for ]iostage, sta- 
tionery and facilities for filing" and preserving records. As one 
method of meeting this small expense, it is suggested that the liisiorical 
committee request the County Board of Su])ervisors to grant the sum 
considered necessary. This is already being done in certain counties, 
and if the matter is proi)erly presented to the Board of Super\isors 
it is not believed that tliere will be any difficulty in obtaining their 
assent. In certain counties other means of secm-ing the necessary 
funds will suggest themselves. 

It is most important that the ijersons engaged in gathering mater- 
ial give their work as much publicity as possible through the news- 
papers, schools, churches, etc. I'eople living in the community will 
gladly assist if they are shown how their services can be of value. It 
has happened repeatedly that people have had in their possession 
valuable records which they were glad and even relieved to turn over 
to some responsible agency as soon as it was brought to their attention 
that the material was desired. 

The following suggestions are offered with respect to the gather- 
ing of sjjecific kinds of material. In the case of the various county 
committees which have been enumerated, the records can in most 
instances be obtained through the former chairmen, a list of whose 
names will be furnished by the War Records Section if desired. Data 
jjertaining to individual Service records should be obtained from the 
men themselves or their relatives. If it is desired to secure informa- 
tion concerning the war activities of any particular organization such 
as a church, school, or chamber of commerce, it may be fotind con- 
venient to invite the institution in question to designate some person 
to co-operate with the historical committee and sup])ly the required 
data. 

Preservation of Material 

It is e.xtremely important that a safe, convenient, and permanent 
depository be provided for the material gathered. If this is not done 
the wdiole piu'pose of the undertaking will be defeated and it will only 
be a <|uestion of time before the records are lost. iV suitable deposi- 
tory can usually be provided at the county court house, the public 
library at the county seat, or at the rooms occupied by the county 
historical society. This matter should be attended to as early as possi- 
ble, Ijefore the work of collecting has been completed. 

Xewspaper files should be bound wherever possible while news- 
paper clippings may be preserved in large scrap-books. Loose papers 
in the form of correspondence, reports, minutes, etc., should be classi- 
fied and kept in vertical filing cases or cabinets. Pamphlets, circulars, 
etc.. may be kept in j)asteboard or cloth file boxes made for the pur- 



pose. Colleclions of war posters should be mounted on clotli in such 
a way as to prevent tearing. 

Publication of County War Histories 

The War Records .Section has received numerous requests for 
suggestions relative to the publication of county war histories. It is 
extremely desirable that wherever possible each county publish a his- 
tory of its part in the war. This has already been done in several 
Illinois counties with most gratifying results. If it is announced that 
such a project is to be undertaken, it will greatly stimulate popular 
interest in the task of gathering material. Moreover, a volume in 
which will appear the names and records of those who have rendered 
war service will constitute as fitting a memorial as a bronze tablet or 
monument. 

Any county war history will necessarily present two phases (1) 
It will contain a description of the various agencies which performed 
war work, rosters of names, institutions, etc. (2) It will include an 
account of the work performed by these organizations and persons 
together with a narrative of important events in the county during 
the war. The writer should not be content to name the personnel 
and describe the organization of the Food Production and Conserva- 
tion Committee, for example. He should tell what it did, which will 
include a description of food conditions within the county and the 
story of what the committee accomplished by way of relief. 

An outline for a county history must necessarily be only tenta- 
tive but the following topics are suggested in the hope that they will 
convey some ideas with reference to the scope of such a history and 
concerning methods of arrangement. 

Suggested Topics for County War History 
Public Opinion, 191-1-191:. 

Character of the local population, including foreign elements. 
Popular attitude toward European War. 

Representative newspaper editorials on war. including submarine 
issue, etc. 

The County .\nd the Nation's Fighting Forces. 
Voluntary enlistments. 
Recruiting campaigns. 
History of local national guard units. 
The National Army. 

Local draft machinery and its operation. 
Attitude toward the draft — draft evaders, conscientious ob- 
jectors, pleas for exemption. 
Chronicles of the Selective Draft — to be obtained from local 
board members. 
The Navy. 
The Marine Corps. 
Home Defense Organizations. 



County Roll of Honor. 

Men who laid down their lives. 
Citations for distinguished service. 

County Organiz.^tions Under the St.\te Council of Defense. 
The county committees, their organization and personnel. 
Methods of work. 
Results accomplished by various committees. 

Relief .\M) \\'elf.\re Work. 
.\nierican Red Cross. 
Y. M. C. A. 
Salvation Army. 
Knights of Columbus. 
Jewish Welfare Board. 
.American Librarv .Association. 
Y. W. C. A, 

\\'ar Camp Comnnmity Service. 
.Allied and other foreign relief work'. 

In treating the topics enumerated above, the following informa- 
tion should be included: local organization, if any: kjcal leaders' 
methods of obtaining funds: and results accomplished. 

County War Finance. 

I^iberty Loan Committees. 

War Savings Stamps and Thrift Stamps. 

United War Work Campaign. 

County Finance Committees. 

Taxation in the county. 

r\lolilLIZATION AMI Co.NSERVATION OF ECONOMIC RESOURCES. 

County Food Administrator and his work. 
County Fuel Administrator and his work. 
Manufacturing and other industries rendering war service. 
.Agricultural activities. 

Methods of increasing crop production. 

U. S. Boys' Working Reser\e. 

Woman's Land .Armv. 
Labor conditions. 

"Work or Fight" oriler. 

I^ocal employment service. 
.Seizures by .Alien Lrojierty Custoflian. 

Luiii.ic Opinion and the ^\'.\K. 

The news])a])ers of the county. 
Public meetings. 
I'our .Minute Men. 
.American Rrotectixe League. 

.Services reuflercd liy clnirches, schools rnid other local institu- 
tions. 
Pro-Cierman sentiment. 



10 

Registration of enemy aliens. 
Prosecution of disloyal persons. 

NoN-MiLiTAKY Service. 

Citizens holding important government positions. 
Distinguished ])rofessional service. 

Reconstruction. 

Effects of the Armistice. 

Return of men from active service. 

Homecoming celebrations. 

The American Legion. 

War Mothers' Association. 

Cooperation with War Records Section 

The Secretary of the War Records Section stands ready at all 
times to give any assistance in his power to those who are engaged in 
the task of collecting war material in the various counties. There will 
on the other hand be numerous occasions when the Secretary will be 
obliged to call upon county historical agencies for assistance in gather- 
ing the material to be used in writing the history of the State in the 
war. It is hoped that such requests will meet with a ready and willing 
response, inasmuch as the State and the various counties are occupied 
with two phases of the same big project. It will be essential that the 
W^ar Records Sccti(jn keep in close touch with the work being done 
throughout the State and it is hoped that each individual county will 
keep the Secretary informed at frequent intervals of ])rogress which 
is being made. 

W.wNE E. Stevens, 

Secretary. 
War Records Section, 
Illinois State Historical Library, 
Sijringtield, Illinois. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



020 933 557 8 * 



